Police Arrest PDP Senatorial Candidate In Bayelsa Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contesting the Bayelsa Central Senatorial seat in the 2023 elections, Hon. Friday Konbowei Benson has been apprehended over alleged certificate forgery.

Naija News learnt that the former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly was arrested on Wednesday by a team of tactical officers from the office of the Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force.

Benson was said to have defeated his opponent, Moses Cleopas, by polling 110 votes to emerge as the party’s standard bearer during the PDP primaries conducted months ago.

Cleopas, however, did not agree with the processes before and during the primaries.

The politician dragged Benson before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, accusing him of submitting forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Reports emerging on Wednesday said police operatives stormed Yenagoa earlier today and whisked Benson away to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) where his statement was taken.

Confirming the development, the State Commissioner of Police, Ben Okolo, who spoke with journalists on the phone said he was aware of the presence of the IGP team in the State.

He, however, said he was kept in the dark on why the politician was arrested and the case being investigated.

On his part, when contacted by Leadership on the phone, Senator Cleopas denied instigating the Police to arrest Benson.

“The Nigeria Police is not under my control, so I cannot influence them to do their job. They are doing their work,” the lawmaker reportedly said.

Probed further that he was said to have written a petition against Benson which led to his arrest, Cleopas said he has a right to write a petition.

“I am a Nigerian citizen who has fundamental human rights to write a petition against somebody I believe used forged documents to contest against me,” he added.